The Novel Journey

It's Friday evening, and the post I was planning to put on Novel Journey tonight isn't going to work because I didn't realize the book's release is still a few months out. Argh! Who wants to write a blog post between Christmas and New Years?

As I considered what to write about—briefly toying with the idea of touching on platform, or publicity, or working with your local bookstore, it occurred to me that I had no idea what was going to happen to my life the day I finally decided to sit down and write my novel. Little did I know when I wrote the "The End" and made a pledge that I would do whatever it took to see this book published, what that would entail.

The first ACFW conference I attended, guest speaker Karen Ball urged us not to miss the journey along the way to publication. I remember feeling this knot in my stomach, thinking it was easier to say than to live out, for if my novel wasn't published, I'd just wasted two years of my life and more money than I had to spend.

Since then, I've come to a much better understanding.

The journey really is something worth experiencing.

If it hadn't been for this journey, I wouldn't have tried my hand at publicity, or be working on my public speaking skills. Neither would have I started to learn graphic or web design. I probably never would have worked at a local bookstore. And currently, I'm taking the skills I learned writing and editing and applying them to video production.

And while those skills are useful in and of themselves, there have been deeper lessons than those. Lessons of perseverance—such as deciding to invest another year to rewrite a manuscript that I'd worked years on, and lessons that nothing can stop you from putting one foot in front of the other if you choose to pursue your dreams.

I've picked up honesty along the way, which might sound surprising coming from a Christian and a writer. I'm talking about the kind of honesty that tells (and writes) the truth, no matter how much it hurts or we hate to admit it. Recently my husband played in a concert, and with everyone around him assuring him the performance was stellar, he turned and asked me my opinion. My reply, "I think you did about 80-85% of what you're capable of." Shock registered on the faces around me until my husband smiled and said, "Yeah, that's what I was thinking too." He knew that from me—if he asked—he'd get an honest opinion.

I've also learned there's a very careful balance between career and family. In the end, it's only a book and some things in life are not worth missing on a chance that may—or may not—happen. Yet at the same time, I've learned if you don't clear your schedule and make time, it definitely won't happen.

There's a saying that publishing won't change your life, you're the same person after publication as you were beforehand. I won't argue with that, but I will add a clause that says, there's a mighty good chance you'll be a different person than the one who decided to start the publishing journey.

It's nearing the end of 2007 and for some it might mean the end another year that they didn't see their novel or book published. I'd like to remind everyone of the best advice I've heard yet—Don't forget to enjoy the journey along the way.

Photo credit: www.sxc.hu, djayo.